Supervisors grant variance for Gluckstadt hotel height
Madison County supervisors approved a height variance for a new hotel in Gluckstadt on Monday despite opposition from area residents.
The hotel is proposed at the Gluckstadt Commercial Center located off Dees Drive.
The Madison County Planning & Zoning Commission voted in June to recommend denial of a height variance that would allow for an extra story to be built. The county zoning had a height ceiling at 40 feet and the variance request asked for 23.75 feet more.
Gluckstadt resident and P&Z commissioner Walter McKay argued the variance was a major deviation from the ordinance.
District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks ultimately made the motion to approve the variance, saying he was pro-economic development and the majority of the extra height involved was cosmetic.
Supervisors ultimately voted 3-2 to approve, with District 1 Supervisor Sheila Jones and District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter voting against.
In other news, supervisors:
• Approved rezoning of R-1 property to R-2 residential on Catlett Road for Rands, LLC in a 4-1 vote, with District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter voting against.
• Approved a computer software support agreement addendum with Delta Computer Systems Inc. for $265 per month.
• Approved a new utility account for Sulphur Springs Health Center.
• Approved an MOU with 20th Circuit Adult Drug Treatment Court and Fairland Center.
• Approved annual maintenance of courtroom equipment with Infoware 2 for circuit court and chancery court to total $2,100.
• Approved travel and related expenses for Albert Jones and Jennifer Knight to attend the 2020 E911 Conference in Orange Beach, Ala., Oct. 11-14. The total cost is unknown at this time.
• Approved an AT&T utility permit for Bridgewater Drive and a C Spire utility permit for Aulenbrock Drive.
• Approved a property tax exemption for First Baptist Madison for a new church on Bozeman Road under construction.
• Approved a property tax exemption for Canton Housing Authority for properties created in a Federal Opportunity Zone in Canton.
• Approved a final plat for Endris Estates.
• Approved the release of a letter of credit for Coventry, Part 1 subdivision.
• Awarded bids for bridge replacement at Old Highway 16 and Stump Bridge Road. Joe McGee Construction had the lowest bid for $569,221 for Old Highway 16. Beacon Construction LLC was awarded Stump Bridge replacement for $1,017,456.90.